PHILIPPE CLEMENT wants to make Abdallah Sima’s loan move permanent.
The Rangers boss has revealed he’s set for talks with Brighton, as he bids to secure the 22-year-old on a long-term deal.
Abdallah Sima joined Rangers on loan in the summer[/caption]
Philippe Clement is keen to sign the striker permanently[/caption]
Winger Sima has scored 11 goals this season and is one of Gers few successful summer signings along with keeper Jack Butland.
Ahead of Gers’ trip to Tynecastle tomorrow, Clement said: “It’s not about assessing Abdallah’s situation in the summer. There will be faster talks.
“But of course it’s really early to be doing that, the most important thing is that Abdallah is performing and he feels really good in the club.
“That’s the first step, so we can build on that.
“That’s an interesting process. If he is continuing what he is doing now I think this is also a good place for him to grow, as a player, as a person, in everything.
“It’s a demanding club so you love that or you have difficulty with that.
“You need a big personality to be strong with that in the moments when people are not happy about things.
“Then you need to fight through and Abdallah has shown that in these last weeks.
“It’s not the whole time that he’s getting praise. But he also fights through, and that’s also one of the things we need to look hard into in the assessment of players.
“It’s not just physical, tactical and technical qualities, it’s about personality too, the ability to be strong in the environment of a big club.
“That’s also the winning culture I want to create here.
“People who will come through even in the difficult moments.
“I want that also from the fans, that they push the players through even in the difficult moments.
“Pushing in a positive way, feeling confident that if they give energy, the players will do it.
“So that’s what we need to create.”
Clement confirmed Gers will head to La Manga in the winter break.
The Light Blues will play a closed-door friendly in Spain, before facing FC Copenhagen at Ibrox, just days before the Scottish Cup clash against Dumbarton.
The Rangers gaffer revealed: “Everything is arranged. That was also one of the things in the six weeks. We are going to Spain for one week.
“We are going to play a game there, and we are planning to play a friendly game here on the way back.
“It will be in La Manga and the friendly will be closed doors.”
Gers face a Hearts side tomorrow who have won four league games in a row for the first time since 2018.
Clement said: “It will be a big challenge. We beat them in two games.
“It’s a little bit special as it’s my 11th game for the club, and the third time against the same opponent. But we had to be on our toes twice before to have a really good level to beat them.
“It’s a good team with strong organisation and good, attacking players.
“They are also super motivated from what I hear and read about this game to beat us.”
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